Assessment of the effects of gabapentin on activity levels and owner-perceived mobility impairment and quality of life in osteoarthritic geriatric cats

Abstract

OBJECTIVE Toevaluate effects of gabapentin on activity levels and owner-perceived mobility impairment and quality of life (QOL) in osteoarthritic geriatric cats. DESIGN Blinded, placebo-controlled, randomized crossover-design study. ANIMALS 20 osteoarthritic cats (≥ 10 years old). PROCEDURES Cats received gabapentin (10 mg/kg [4.5 mg/lb]) or placebo treatment, PO, every 12 hours for 2 weeks, followed by the alternate treatment (with no washout period). Activity was assessed with a collar-mounted accelerometer. A client-specific outcome measure (CSOM) questionnaire was used weekly to collect owner assessments of 3 selected activities in which their cats had impaired mobility; QOL ratings (worse, the same, or improved) following crossover to each treatment and for the overall study period were collected at the end of the investigation. Activity counts, CSOM and QOL data, and deterioration in impaired activities (ie, decrease of ≥ 2 points in CSOM scores) associated with treatment crossover were assessed statistically. Adverse events were recorded. RESULTS Gabapentin administration was associated with significantly lower mean daily activity counts (48,333 vs 39,038 counts/d) and significantly greater odds (approx 3-fold change) of CSOM ratings indicating improvement in impaired activities, compared with results for the placebo treatment. A greater proportion of cats had deterioration in impaired activities after the crossover from gabapentin to placebo than when the opposite occurred, but the proportion of cats with worsened QOL did not differ between sequences. Adverse events were noted for 10 cats (9 that completed the study) during gabapentin treatment (sedation, ataxia, weakness, and muscle tremors) and 1 cat during placebo treatment (lethargy). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Gabapentin treatment was associated with improvement in owner-identified impaired activities of osteoarthritic cats. Activity levels were lower than those during placebo treatment, and sedation was the most common adverse effect.

Appetite-stimulating effect of gabapentin vs mirtazapine in healthy cats post-ovariectomy

“…Gabapentin's main side effects in cats are sedation and ataxia (anecdotal mentioning of diarrhoea, vomiting and hyper-salivation) with a dose ranging from 10 to 30.5 mg/kg. 39,42,43 No side effects were registered during observations with the study's lower dose of 5 mg/kg; however, activity and heart rate were not measured and a mild level of sedation cannot be ruled out.…”

“…35,36 In veterinary medicine, gabapentin finds an application in dogs' refractory idiopathic epilepsy and it is also the most prescribed treatment for the alleviation of chronic musculoskeletal pain in cats. [37][38][39] Actions leading to pain management have been ascribed to its binding to alpha 2 delta-1 subunits of voltagegated calcium channels in the brain, inhibiting membrane and anterograde trafficking. 40 In the present study pain was assessed at 6 h after extubation via the Colorado State University Feline Acute Pain Scale, which was recently validated for interoperator reliability for ovariohysterectomy in cats.…”

Feline musculoskeletal ageing: How are we diagnosing and treating musculoskeletal impairment?

“…40 A 14-day trial using gabapentin at 10 mg/kg q12h showed an improvement as determined by a CSOM CMI, but a decrease in activity levels was noted, with sedation being the most common side effect. 46 < Opioids While it has been reported that opioids are commonly prescribed for chronic musculoskeletal pain in cats by North American veterinarians, 66 they are often only prescribed for short periods (8-10 days), which likely reflects the lack of a licensed opioid that can be easily administered at home. In addition, in the UK some opioids are a class B drug, restricting their availability and use.…”

“…45 This CSOM tool was also used in a randomised, placebo-controlled, crossover study assessing gabapentin, which found a significant treatment effect using the CMI. 46 The value of a CSOM-based CMI over a CMI that is not based on the individual has therefore yet to be determined.…”

Validation and Characterization of Platelet-Rich Plasma in the Feline: A Prospective Analysis

“…Adjunctive drug therapy has been introduced to feline pain management regimens, but research is limited with variable results. In a recent study on gabapentin for the treatment of feline osteoarthritis, there was owner-assessed improvement in impaired activities, but overall activity counts were lower and sedation was commonly reported (27). Tramadol improved the activity levels of arthritic cats in one study (28), but in another had no added benefit when combined with meloxicam vs. meloxicam alone (29).…”